Handley Estate Vineyard Brut Rosé 2016
Handley Estate Vineyard Brut Rosé 2016 at Noble Riot in Denver
Anderson Valley, Mendocino County
When I come across a sparkling wine that has it all, I have to share it. Handley Estate Vineyard Brut Rosé 2016 is a fine blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made in the champagne method. The grapes are certified organic and the winery was founded by a trailblazer of a lady, Milla Handley back in the 1980s.
A stunning sparkling rosé, this bottle comes to Denver through the distribution portfolio of Master Sommelier, Doug Krenik. A mentor of mine and a legend in the Colorado wine industry, Doug Krenik Selections brings an array of small-production artisan wines to restaurants and retail shops around the state. You can find this bottle now on the list at one of Denver’s best wine bars, Noble Riot, in the River North Arts District.
The Handley vineyards and winery are located in the picturesque Anderson Valley of Mendocino County, just north of Sonoma in California is one of the coolest wine regions in California. The area is considered one of the best places to grow Pinot Noir in America and is also well-known for outstanding Chardonnay. These grape varieties coupled with the sunny but cool summer days with breezes coming off the Pacific Ocean are the ideal makeup for sparkling wine production.
When it comes to bubbly, it’s all about balance. Winegrowers pray for conditions that allow for optimal ripening while maintaining the high acid integral to the structure of good quality sparkling wine. In Anderson Valley, the diurnal swing, or difference in temperatures between night and day, can fluctuate as much as 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. During the day, the grapes absorb the sun’s energy and the sugars ripen. When the temperatures fall at night, the acids stabilize. This combination has made this area one of California’s very best for sparkling wine grapes.
Back in 1982, Handley Cellars was one of the first bonded wineries in the region. Pioneers in more ways than one, Handley was not only founded by a woman. They also led the charge of organic viticulture well before it was mainstream.
When Handley started the winery, she set out to produce high-quality, terroir-driven wines that tasted like the grapes they were made from. She embraced the bounty nature offers, allowing the variety, soil, and climate to be expressed through every bottle.
Today, the winery continues to be owned and operated by the Handley family with Milla still at the helm as founding winemaker. Her daughter, Lulu, now leads the charge as proprietress and oversees operations at the property she grew up on.
In 2004, winemaker Randy Schock joined the team bringing with his experience making wine in the valley that began in 1998. Schock’s wines are elegant and expressive and crafted with the reverence of nature the winery was founded on.
The Handley Estate Vineyard has been CCOF Certified Organic since 2005 and the RSM Estate Vineyard was fully converted in 2017. Since then, the vineyard and winery teams have observed yields increasing steadily and the fruit produced showing better than ever before.
Organic farming is not something a producer does once as a conversion and walks away from. It’s an ongoing practice that requires attention and intention year-round to maintain. It’s about biodiversity, healthy soils, and long-living grape vines. The proof is in the yields and can be tasted in every glass.
““We see a market drive towards organic - it’s a growing demographic and there’s a limited supply. I think the industry has reached the stage where there are no more excuses.” ”
Beyond the commitment to organic farming and winemaking, the Handley winery runs on 75% solar-powered electricity. They embrace other sustainable practices also with consideration of Mother Earth as well as their community of staff members and guests.
Speaking of guests, you can visit the Handley Winery and see the vines and winemaking process for yourself. The tasting room is open daily and dogs are welcome, too!
Learn more about Handley Cellars
Refined and expressive, this bubbly is a copper-pink hue in the glass with fine bubbles that froth in the glass. On the nose, you’ll smell aromas of citrus, red berries, spring flowers, and fresh herbs.
The palate brings on more clean fruit flavors with notes of watermelon, lime leaf, and the classic notes of freshly baked bread we love to taste in high-quality, champagne method sparkling wine. The 2016 vintage is absolutely singing right now – get some before they run out at Noble Riot!
Wine Features
70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
Sustainably Crafted
Certified Organic
Estate Fruit
Solar-Powered Winery
500 Cases Produced
$50 - $60
Handley Estate Vineyard Brut Rosé 2016 at Noble Riot
This wine is perfect on the Noble Riot patio! Give it a try paired with their Kimchi Miso Fried Chicken Sandwich with miso-chili pickles, gochujang aioli, power slaw, and kimchi vinaigrette, on a brioche bun.
Check out my editorial for DiningOut Magazine featuring this and other Perfect Pink Bubbles to Sip this Spring in Denver, May 2023.
Check out more sparkling wine recommendations!
When I come across a sparkling wine that has it all, I have to share it. Handley Estate Vineyard Brut Rosé 2016 is a fine blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made in the champagne method. The grapes are certified organic and the winery was founded by a trailblazer of a lady, Milla Handley back in the 1980s. A stunning sparkling rosé, this bottle comes to Denver through the distribution portfolio of Master Sommelier, Doug Krenik.